Posted by Johan under
hillsong college It’s HEEEERE! HILLSONG COLLEGE ONLINE OPEN DAY!!! Yiihaaa. It’s a 24 hour event, streaming a 20 minute TV program about College & college life, as well as possibility to chat with current students from all around the world. If you’re lucky - or blessed - you might run into someone from your own country!
Why are we doing this?! - It’s simple. We can’t fly everyone here to see what Hillsong College is like - but we can give you a pretty good picture of it through the web.
We’ve created a unique web page for this event - featuring
- Staff blog
- Interviews with students around the world
- Common questions
And coming up on October 9th, and only that day, for 24 hours:
- Live chat with current Students
- 20 min TV program about Hillsong College
Make sure you don’t miss that day - on the page you can sign up for a reminder!
This is a great opportunity to get insight information from first, second and third year students across all different streams and pathways.
Book in 30 minutes on your Friday (or Thursday or Saturday depending on your timezone) and make a Virtual visit to Hillsong Church & College in Sydney!
College Online Open Day
Posted by Johan under
hillsong college My first semester of second year at HILC started some weeks ago. It’s been quite a rapid jump into a lot of things. Our two intensive weeks at the beginning was under the subject Leadership Theory and Development. Mark Hopkins, executive vice president, Ps. Duncan Corby and Ps. Daniela Duarte taught on subjects such as contemporary leadership, leadership vs. ministry, growth & influence and situational leadership.
Decision making
One thing that stood out was the huge difference between ministry-based and leadership-based decision making. Where the first one is initiated by external needs leading to feelings and resulting in an action, the second one is initiated by a persons core beliefs, leading to decisions that result in actions.
So simple, but so true. All to often decisions in churches and in the life of Christians are based on many other things than core beliefs. When it comes to a Scandinavian setting I believe this is what will make a difference. When we get our core beliefs right, that forms our values, visions and goals of course inspired by the Holy Spirit. This is the best possible base for great decision making and creating direction for a church. This will empower people to work for the Kingdom with passion and purpose.
Ethics and Outreach development
Two other interesting subjects are Christian Ethics, lectured by Ps. Amanda Ferguson and Ministry and Outreach Development by Ps. Daniela Duarte. The purpose of MaOD is to learn how to develop different programs in the society in a way that is actually making an impact and difference. Too often we assume we know the needs and assume we know a certain people group or subculture and we don’t. Creating a community program on these assumptions often fails, and takes up a lot of effort in vain. Typically the planning phase for a good program takes around 18 months to develop. But – when it’s done well, based on good research and understanding of the target audience, it can actually make a huge impact and bring the Kingdom to people that otherwise never would have been reached.
This is a great season to be part of Hillsong College – and… the best is yet to come!
Posted by Johan under
hillsong college,
thoughts 
We’re half-way through the first semester of year 2009. Nine months have flown by in no time at all. And life at Hillsong College just becomes even more interesting.
This is the time of the semester when everyone is starting to be settled, kind of a quite smooth season, leading up to the mid-semester break in a couple of weeks.
The Colour Conference was a great experience - seeing all the college students and other volunteers working together, to make it possible for some 13000+ woman to meet up at the Sydney Entertainment center for a few days of fellowship, worship and teaching sessions.
I believe the months ahead will be a time of personal growth for everyone wanting to go further with the Lord. There are the times of obvious growth through challenges we face, sort of the more rough seasons when you feel you’re getting stretched in almost every aspect of life. An then there are the silent seasons where God comes an meets you, as he did with Elijah through a “gentle and quiet whisper” - a time when God wants to affirm in depth who He is. I believe this is such a season. I believe God wants us to come closer to him without fear - that kind of fear that the people of Israel had by the mount of Sinai. They realized God is holy, and they were not, so they were filled with fear that they would be destroyed because of their sins. But we are able to come close to him because Jesus made it possible. He took the wrath of God on him, and that’s why we can have a clean consciousness and boldly come before him. That’s why we can be friends with the Most Holy God. And I believe the time is now - to strengthen that friendship, to say to God: “Here I am, I want to fellowship with you”.
And out of the quite affirming whisper will come new hope, new strength, new passion and new life!
Posted by Johan under
daily,
hillsong,
impressions 
I wrote some thoughts in August when we had been 5 weeks at college. It gives a pretty good picture on some areas of what Hillsong College is about. And with two months more perspective, it’s just gotten even better.
Written 28th of August:
It’s amazing how fast time can fly. It’s soon three weeks since we started college - and almost 2 weeks since we were isolated from cyberspace and thrown into the jungle of northern Sydney. Finally able to write some posts.
Two first weeks we had two subjects as intense courses - Introduction to pastoral leadership and Teamwork. This week the actual subjects for this semester starts off.
What stands out
There are a few things that stands out already during our first weeks here at Hillsong, and the college. One of my personal concerns during times of decision what Bible College or pastoral education to attend, was not to know the actual profile of Hillsong Church never the less the college. But every day so far, I’ve found myself concluding that what I see and experience is very good.
Wisdom and balance
Hillsong is a pentecostal church, but born in an postmodern age. Traditional old-time pentecostals would ask where the shouting in tongues and all the profecies are. Traditional evangelicals might find the sound a bit too loud or the worship too enthusiastic. Or as someone put it: Too relevant. But it seems nothing is left to chance, but that things are done a certain way for a reason. And, the main reason that actually determines what is reasonable is the vision statement of the church, which is mainly based on the Great Commission.
Shortly put - the church [the people that are the church] exists for the lost and for its community, not to serve itself. That’s the cause of the church, and what ever that takes, is to be lived out through the life of the people that are the church.
Personal growth
The emphasis is - in words of the College Vice President Mark Hopkins - in both knowing AND experiencing God. It’s not so much about performing (as many would think) as about serving. It’s not so much about your gifts as about your attitude. Character is valued more then charisma. Charisma might be a good bonus, but worthless without character.
Atmosphere and expectance
Atmosphere is highly valued - and not without reason. Starting from when people enter the parking area, everyone will know they are valued and important - not only through words, but through how they are met. Also at College I sense an attitude of respect, warmth and care that seems very genuine.
Depth
During our first lessons in Introduction to Pastoral Leadership I was taken by the insight shared by the pastors from all the different departments. It was easy to tell that these people had really put thought into their specific age-group or area of responsibility, to understand their task not merely on a theological or typically pastoral, but also on a sociological level which looks into the situation in the community and the everyday lives of the people that are to be reached, won for Jesus, and discipled.
Observe that these are just a few points that covers some areas that stood out the very first weeks. Much more could be said about the contents of the teaching itself etc. But will be for a later post.
Posted by Johan under
impressions What’s Hillsong College actually like? - That question we’ve been asking ourselves since we started thinking about HILC as an alternative for Bible College and Pastoral training. What are their basic values? What’s their vision, thoughts, goals etc. Some information you’ll of course find on their website. On this blog we’ll be telling you our experiences on our own journey also at Hillsong College. So here we go - first day:
First day
We arrived just on time, 8:30. The weather is freezing cold. On our way in everyone we meet greets with a big smile.
The morning sets off Hillsong style with some 25 minutes of great worship. The principal of the hills campus, Lee Burns, welcomes us with an inspiring and humoristic touch. He tells about Brian Hustons vision for Hillsong church and the values of the school. During an 1 hour break everyone is given a nice t-shirt and a school bag - cool. Talked to an american woman, a Swede, couple of American guys, and a Norwegian girl. And some others. Great. The school is packed of Americans and Norwegians. If I don’t catch up on the Austrailian accent I can still train on the Norwegian one.
The atmosphere in general is enthusiastic, and Lee points out the importance of letting this be a year when God can work in and through you, and transform you. He actually addressed the “jante-law” (common in the northern countries) and promised that it will be dealt with. Liked that.
I left first day of school encouraged and very eager to see what’s to come, looking very much forward to what God has in store this coming year!
